Disaggregating Differences in the Intimate Partner Homicide Decline

William Wells, Southern Illinois Univ. at Carbondale

William DeLeon-Granados, Indiana University - Bloomington

ABSTRACT

This research describes the trends in intimate partner homicides in California from 1987 to 1998, disaggregated by the race and gender of victims. This descriptive information contributes to existing, albeit new, knowledge by providing a detailed understanding of changes in domestic homicide rates that have occurred within segments of the general population. The study tests specific hypotheses about theoretical- and policy-relevant factors believed to affect victim safety, and thus, rates of intimate partner homicide. The researchers use secondary data to test several hypotheses about three factors believed to at least partially explain victim safety, as measured by trends in domestic violence homicide rates; 1) domestic violence resources, 2) offender accountability, and 3) system accountability.